Short Answer
The probability measures the likelihood of an event and is calculated using the formula Probability = Required Outcome / Total Outcomes. For a fair spinner with 4 faces, each color has a probability of 0.25, resulting in a uniform probability distribution among the outcomes.
Step 1: Understand Probability Basics
To grasp the concept of probability, it’s essential to know that it measures the likelihood of a specific event occurring. In the scenario of a fair spinner, the probability for each outcome (like landing on a color) is determined by the formula: Probability = Required Outcome / Total Possible Outcomes. This means that if there are multiple outcomes, each has a defined chance of occurring.
Step 2: Calculate Total Possible Outcomes
For the fair spinner, we need to identify how many distinct outcomes are available. Since the spinner is described as having 4 faces, these represent the possible outcomes. Thus, you find that the total possible outcomes are:
- Face 1
- Face 2
- Face 3
- Face 4
So, the total number of possible outcomes equals 4.
Step 3: Determine Individual Probability
With the total outcomes known, you can now find the probability for each color on the spinner. Each outcome has 1 possibility since there’s only one of each color. Hence, the probability that the spinner lands on each color is calculated as follows:
- P(each color) = 1 (possibility) / 4 (total outcomes) = 0.25
As a result, since all outcomes yield the same probability of 0.25, the outcomes exhibit a uniform probability distribution.